With WWE 2K20 sitting as perhaps one of the biggest flops of not only last year but the entire generation, many are wondering how 2K will possibly spring back for the inevitable release of WWE 2K22, especially after the cancellation of WWE 2K21. As many will no doubt know, the team canceled the release of this year's take on the annual franchise, opting instead to take more time working on the core experience in an effort to win back its dwindling fanbase.
As it turns out, the company hasn't been shy discussing how it intends to make WWE 2K22 into an experience its fans can be proud of, with WWE 2K's new executive producer Patrick Gilmore highlighting the team's plans in a new Reddit AMA. According to Gilmore, the title will look to riff off the most iconic WWE video games of the past two decades, citing WWF No Mercy and SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain as two major influences.
Discussing the philosophy behind the next game, the executive producer claimed "Core gameplay is one of the major investments we’re making in the next installment... We are looking at much-loved previous games like No Mercy or Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain, along with top franchise installments, and more modern wrestling and fighting games to build an all-new philosophical foundation for the game." Naturally, this will make a lot of fans happy, especially as the more wacky wrestling games that dropped during the early 2000s are often recalled as the series' standouts.
Alongside this, Gilmore goes on to share that the team is looking to merge a number of control schemes and styles from several major wrestling titles, citing "we are trying to combine the best ideas out there into a brand new wrestling experience that sets a new standard." As for what this could mean, Gilmore says "depth" is the key, telling fans that the studio is looking at "ring position, deeper combos and working moves, limb damage, technical capabilities, match momentum and unlocks, and rock-paper-scissors (RPS) strategies by archetype and player style." While his words definitely make the point clear enough, Gilmore confirms that players should "expect a significant evolution in gameplay with the next installment."
Naturally, these are the promises fans have been wanting to hear for a very long time now, with the recent WWE titles coming under a lot scrutiny from players for their shallow, repetitive gameplay and lack of refinement. Gilmore's words definitely have done a lot to make players feel like the next installment of the franchise will be one to watch, so here's hoping its finally the return to form fans have been clamoring for.
WWE 2K22Â is in development now
Source: Reddit